Hay-stacker.



PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

J. R. WRIGHT. HAY STAUKER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 1, 1905.

2 SHEETS--SHBET l.

same rigid by` transverse sills 6 with an intervening space 7 between rrn grins# il.

HAY-STACKEFL Application filed March 1, 1

Specification of Letters Patent.

latenteoi May 22, 1906.

905. Serial No. 247.950.

To all whom it 17m/y concern/.- Y Be it known that l, JOHN R. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wheeling, in the county of Livingston and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Tmprovements in HayStaclers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a hay stacker or riclrer of that class embodying a fork or ele vating means carried by side bars and operative through the medium of draft appliances connected thereto to facilitate the formation of a stack or rick and under certain operations to positively top off the latter.

The improved stacker in addition to the elevatable fork includes a rotatable counterbalancing-frame having weight means movably secured thereto in opposition to an elonated arm of the frame attached to the fork` and over a part ofwhich the draft cord, rope,` or cable passes in regular plies and engages movable elements. The fork has automatically-adjustable side bars, and cooperating therewith are movement-controlling devices to modify the elevation of the forli at will.

Other incidental advantageous features Iwill be hereinafter referred to and individu-` ally contribute to the efficiency of the stacker organization as an entirety. l

Inl the drawings, Figure 1 is a side eleva-- tion of a stacker embodying the features ofy the invention and showingthe fork lowered.` Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3` is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the fork and its side bars elevated. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a portion of the fork, showing the adjustingmeans for a part of the teeth thereof in a different position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several viwes.

The improved stacker is portable and may be positioned at any point in a field or otherwise located for the purpose of forming a stack or rick, and the base thereof comprises opposite side bars 1, connected to render the bars 2 and, 3, bar 2 being located at one end of the base and the bar 3 at the opposite extremity. Posts 1 rise from the extremity4 of the base, having the cross-bar 2 thereon, and are disposed in parallel relation and have an equal vertical extent. Extending inwardly from intermediate portions of the opposite side bars 1 m are inwardly and upwardly inclined framebars 5, havingtheir upper ends connected by lof the side bars the inner opposing edges thereof. These frame-bars 5 and sills 6 unitedly forni a supporting means for a counterbalancing-frame, rotatably mounted between the sills 6 and consisting of a bar or strip 8, eccentrically intersected at right angles by anotherv bar or strip 9, the eccentric disposition of the bar or strip 9 with respect to the bar or strip 8 providing the latter with an elongated arm 10 and a shorter arm 1ly on opposite sides of the oint of intersection with the bar S of the bar Q. Through the center of the intersecting portions of the bars S and 9 a fulcrum-pin 12 extends and is held in suitable bearings 13 on the top central portions of the sills 6. The one end ofthe b( r 9 has yoke-arms 14 secured thereto and extending outwardly therefrom to embrace the opposite terminals of a rod or spindle 15, on which a series of grooved guide rollers or sheaves 16 are mounted and have independent rotation arms. To the end of the shorter arm 11 of the bar or strip 8 a weight box or receptacle 17 is pivotally hung and free to swing on the end of the arm, and projecting upwardly from opposite sides of the outer end of the said weight box or receptacle are yoke-arms 18, which embrace the opposite ends of a rod or spindle 19, on which a series of grooved rollers or sheaves 2O are mounted between the yoke-arms 18 and have independent rotation. At the end of the longer arm 10 a pulhley 21 is movably attached, and adjacent` to at a suit-able distance` from the point of location of the fastening therefor an eye 22 is also secured to the arm. The end of the arm 10, carrying the pulley 21, is also connected, by means of wires, cables, or other analogous devices 23, to a cross-arm 24 terminally attached to the side members of a forli constructed as will forth, and in addition the cross-arm 24 has the terminals of limiting chains or analogous devices 25 attached thereto and also connected to the upper portions of the adjacent framebars 5 of each pair of said frame-bars. These chains or analogous devices 25 limit the overthrow of the fork and the movement lto which said forl is connected, and thereby relieve the devices cooperating with the said side bars and the stacker organization generally of considerable strain.

One end of a draft cord, rope, or cable 26 is secured to the eye 22 of the arm 10 and is then passed over one of the'grooved rollers or said pulley be presently set i IOO TIO

sheaves 16, held by the yoke-arms 14, and downwardly over one of the grooved rollers or sheaves 20, held by the arms 18 of the weight-box 17, and then passes downwardly under a guide-pulley 27, held on the crossarm 2 of the base. From the pulley 27 the cord, rope, or cable runs upwardly over another grooved roller or sheave 20 held by the weight-box, and over another of the rollers or sheaves 16 between the arms 14 and down to the pulley 21. From the pulley 21 the cord, rope, or cable 'again passes upwardly over and engages the remaining grooved roller or sheave 16 between the arms 14` and passesdown to the remaining grooved roller or sheave 20 on the weight-box and from thence extends under a guide-pulley 28 and is carried away from the end of the machine any suitable distance for the reception of draft appliances for the attachment of either one or more draft-animals, as the work to be performed may require.

It will be seen that the several plies of the draft-cable arranged as set forth have free movement over the grooved rollers or sheave 16 and 20 and through the several pulleys and thedraft strain is applied to the outer extremity of the arm 10, close to the point of attachment to the latter of the wires, cables, or other devices 23, running to the cross-arm 24. When the cord, rope, or cable 26 is drawn outward y to exert a pulling tension on the end of the arm 10, the entire frame, composed of the intersecting bars or strips 8 and 9, will be assisted to overcome the Weight resistance4 of the fork and side bars and the load carried by the fork through the particular position of the weight-box 17, in which suitable weights will be disposed, and as the fork, with its load, and the side bars swing over to dump the load onto the stack, or in the primary preparation of the latter, said weight-box swings over. to a reverse position from that which it normally occupies, as clearly shown by IF ig. 3. When the fork is relieved of its load, the weights in the box 17 materially assist in the return of the fork v and the side bars to normal lowered position, and during such operation the draft cord, rope, or cable is slackened by backing the draft animal or animals attached thereto. In some instances this draft cord, rope, or cable may be attached to and operate in connection with any well-known form of sweep. This arrangement, however, will be determined by the desires of the user.

The frame-bars 5, carrying the sills 6,' are also reinforced thereto andy to the cross-bars 2 and 3, and this bracing means cooperating with the inwardly-inclined disposition of the framebars will give the supporting means for the counterbalaneing frame movably disposed on the sills 6 a stable disposition with respect by brace-rods 29, connected' tothe base and resist strain imposed thereon by the weight of the successive loads of the fork.

The fork or rake is composed of a series of long teeth 30, attached to a head bar 31 and braced or strengthened by an intermediate tie-bar 32, having a beveled edge toward the free ends of the said teeth to avoid the formation of a shoulder obstruction and permit the hay or straw to fall fully over the said teeth toward the head-bar 31. Individually pivot-ed to the teeth 30 adjacent to the head bar 31 .are a series of shorter teeth 33, which are always held, in the present instance, in either one of two angular positions with respect to the teeth 30. Movably connected to the head-bar 31 is an adjusting-bar 34, which is adapted to be interposed between the outer edge of the. headbar and the adjacent edges of the teeth'33 or to be elevated and thrown back to permit the inner edges of the said teeth 33 to practically engage with the head-bar, as shown by F ig. 4. Two of the longer teeth 30 are extended inwardly beyond the head-bar 31, as at 35, and have the extensions thereof formed with under bevels 36, attached to .slidable members l37 of the side bars, which have their terminals correspondingly beveled to form an elongated break-joint between the two parts, suitable fastening means being employed to connect the extensions 35 with the members 37. The adjusting-bar 34 is wedge-shaped in cross-section, so that when it is interposed between the edge of the head-bar 31 and the teeth 33 its reduced'edge will be downward to effect a proper angular position of the said teeth and avoid interposing between the latter and the head-bar too great thickness of material. By having this 4adjustingbar wedge-shaped and interposable between the teeth 33 and the head-bar 31 said teeth 33 are permitted to be applied tothe teeth 30 in closer relation to the head-bar for practical engagement with said bar during one adjustment of the teeth 33 or when the adjusting-bar is thrown over on top of the head-bar. rPhe wedge-shaped cross-sectional contour of the adjusting-bar also facilitates the elevation of the same from engagement with the edge of the head-bar adjacent to the teeth The side elevating means for the fork in addition to the slidable members 37 include bars 38, which are pivoted at one end to the outer sides of the side bars 1 of the base near the cross-bar 2, and to each slide-bar 37 is attached an embracing-strap 39, carrying an antifrictional roller 40, which bears against the under edge of the bar 38, and at the opposite extremity a strap 41 is attached to the pivoted bar 38 and carries an antifrictional roller 42, bearing on the edge of the slide-bar 37 farthest from the contiguous edges of the two bars 37 and 38. Each of the bars 37 is roo i IIO senese rl`he materials of which the stacker parts are composed. maybe varied at will and may 'be either wood or metal or partially of both, and to accommodate various applications changes in the proportions, dimensions, andv minor details may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed isl. In a stacker, the combination of a base, a' support held by the base, a counterbalancing-frame mounted on the support and having an elongated arm, a fork having side bars pivotally connected to the base, the terminal of the elongated arm being attached to portions of the side bars, a counterbalancingweight means acting in opposition to the said arm, and a draft device movably passing over a portion of the counterbalancingframe and having one terminal thereof attached to the extremity of the arm adjacent to the point of connection of the latter with the side bars, a portion of the draft device also movably engaging the extremity of the arm attached to the side bar.

2. ln a stacker, the combination of a base, a fork movably connected to the base to swing thereover, a eounterbalancing-frame rotatably supported by the base and having an elongated arm connected to a portion of the forli, a weight means attached to the opposite extremity of the said arm, and a draft device engaging a portion of the base and passing over a part of the counterbalancingframe and the weight means and terminally attached to the free extremity of the elon gated arm.

3. ln a stacker, the combination of a base, a fork pivotally supported by the base and movable thereover, a counterbalancingframe rotatably held by the base and connected to a part of the fork and having rotatable devices on different portions thereof, a weight-receptacle carried by a part of the frame and also having rotatable devices thereon, and a draft device engaging a part of the base and the said rotatable devices of the counterbalancing-frame and weight-receptacle.

4. In a stacker, the combination of a base, a fork pivotally connected to the base and movable over the latter, a counterbalancingframe attached to a portion of the fork, and a draft device having plies loosely movable over a portion of the counterbalancingframe to distribute the draft force over a greater area of the latter, one terminal of the draft device being immovably connected to fthelextremity of the frame attached to the or r. i

5. In a stacker, the combination of a base, a fork pivotally attached to the base and movable thereover, and adjustable devices cooperating with the fork to vary the elevaextensible regularly with respect to its companion bar 38 but this extension is controlled by adjusting means, which will now be explained. Attached to the end of each l slidable bar 37, near the pivoted end of the bar 38, is a cord, rope, or cable 43, which passes over `a grooved roller or sheave 44, held on the outer side of the opposite extremity of the pivoted bar 38 by an embracing-strap 45. The cord, rope, or cable 43 after passing over the grooved roller or sheave 44 extends under the two bars in each instance or at opposite sides of the stacker and is attached to a ring or analogous device 46, freely movable on an inclined controllingbar 47, the said bar being terminally held by the upper end of the post 4 and the cross-bar 3. On each of these controlling-bars 47 a stop-sleeve 48 is adjustably mounted and adapted to be held by a set-screw 49 passing therethrough to engage the bar 47. By adjusting the two sleeves 48 at corresponding elevations on the controlling-bars 47 the movement of the slidable bars 37 will be controlled, and consequently the elevation of the fork correspondingly regulated., it being understood that the sleeves 48 will be moved on the bars 47 proportionately to the height of the stack or rick to effect a deposit of the load of hay or straw carried by the fork on the top of such stack or rick.

Primarily the adjusting stop-sleeves 48 are moved fully up over the controlling rods or bars 47 adjacent to the posts 4, for the reason that there will be no elevation of the stack or rick at such time, and in this connection it will be noted that considerable weight or resistance is removed from the draft animal or animals by reason of the closeness of the load, or, in other words, the shortness of the side bars or reduced leverage.. Of course the resistance and leverage will be increased as the slidable bars 37 regularly elevate in accordance with the adjustment of the sleeves 48 on the rods or bars 47 From the foregoing description the operation of the stacker will be readily understood, and the advantages of the particular construction are manifold 'and reside mainly in the arrangement of the eounterbalancingframe and especially the longer arm 10 thereof, which will facilitate the operation of elevating the fork and its side bar s by reason of the longer leverage of the same and the disposition in respect thereto of the counterbalancing means or weight-box and the plies of the draft cord, rope, or cable. The side bars of the extensible nature set forth coperating with the controlling means for regulating the elevation of the slidable members of said bars is also another feature of importance, together with the incidental details of the several parts which have heretofore been fully set forth l IOO IIO

the base, and slidable members tion of the latter, a terminally slidable tion thereof.

6. ln a stacker, the combination of a base, side bars composed of members pivoted` to cooperating with said pivoted members, a fork attached to the slidable members, flexible devices connected to the slidable members and movable over the pivoted members, adjustable means with which the flexible devices loosely engage, said ileXible devices being terminally slidable on the adjusting means and draft means for operating the fork' and the side bars.

7. In a stacker, the combination of a base, side bars having members pivoted to the base and slidable members cooperating with said pivoted members, a fork attached to the slidable members, a counterbalancing-frame connected to a portion of the side bars, a draft device cooperating with the counterbalancing-frame, adjustable means adjacent to each side bar organization and including shiftable stop devices, and flexible connections between `the slidable bars and the said adjustable means, the iiexib'le connections being terminally movable on the adjustable means and adapted to be limited as to movement by the stop devices.

S. In a stacker, the combination of a base, inclined controlling-bars held on the base and having adj Listing-sleeves thereon, a fork having eXtensible side bars pivotally attached to the base, flexible connections between the senese 9. In a stacker, the combination of a base, inclined controlling-bars having slides movably mounted thereon, eXtensible side bars pivoted to the base, flexible connections between portions of the side bars and the controlling-bars, said connections loosely engagingthe controlling-bars, a fork carried by the side bars, and a draft means cooperating with the side bars and fork.

10. ln a stacker, a fork composed of a series of main teeth, a head-bar attached to said teeth, shorter teeth pivoted to the main teeth, and an adjusting-bar continuing entirely across the fork to the head-bar and insertible between the outer edge of the lattery and the shorter teeth, the said adjusting-bar being approximately wedge-shaped in cross-section and disposed in a plane at right angles to the main teeth when inserted between the headbar and the shorter pivoted teeth, the adjusting-bar when out of engagement with the shorter pivoted teeth being thrown over on the head-bar. Y

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN R. WRIGHT.

and movably connected part oi said devices being portions of the said side bars and the coni over the remaining portrolling-bars, and draft means coperating with the fork and side bars. 

